Cigar lighter



April 17, 192s.v

w. J; BUTLER CIGAR LIGHTER Filed Juiy 2, 1927 INVENTOR. m7/f'a/ Muff/:0A

WM 'www A TTORNEY S.

i `Patented Api'. 17, 1928.

UNITED STATES p y1,666,809 PATENT oFFicE.

, WILLIAM J'. BUTLER, OFrGRANSTON, RHODE ISLAND, ASSIGNOR TO HENRY LEDERER 4 & BRO., INC., OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND, A-CORPORA`TION 0F RHODE ISLAND.

CIGAR LIGHTER.

Application led. July 2, 1927. Serial N'o. 203,227.

` This invention relates to an .ignition device of the pyrophoric type having a manually operated friction wheel; Aand has for its obJect to prevent ,the thumb from com- .'ing in contactl with the friction wheel and yet so mount the Wheel that it may be readi- -1y removed and replaced when worn.

A further object of the invention is to more securely support the pivoting ltrunm nion of t-he friction Wheel by thickening the top wall of the fuel reservoir at the point of mounting the trunnion to give an increased bearing support therefor.

With these and other objects in View, the l invent-ion consists of certa-1n novel features of construction, as will be more fully described, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanyin drawings:

Figure '1 is a side e evation of the ignition device.

Figure 2 is atop plan View thereof,

Figure 3 -is a sectional view through the ignition means which is mounted on the top of a fuelA reservoir.

Figure 4 is a side elevation of the Wheel unit providing both a friction wheel, and

a separate lor spaced thumb wheel.

Figure 5 is a side elevationof the washer 3o or support for the wheel unit. p

F'gure 6 is a side elevation of the trunnion. l

Figure 7 is a sectional yview through the wick tube' witha fragment of the casing and its closing cap shown in section.

Figure 8 is a sectional view taken at right angles to that shown in Figures 3 and 7v through the wick 'tube and the trunnion mounting for the friction wheel' of the ignition means mounted on the top of the fuel reservoir.

Fig. 9 is a fragmental perspective view of the top part of the lighter.

' It is found in practice desirable to provide an ignition device of a size to be ecarried about in the ocket of the user, which will be simple andp positive in itsY operation,

inexpensive to manufacture and yet one wherein the ignition parts are mounted on 5o the top of a fuel reservoir with the abrasive wheel protected against accidental contact and with the parts most subjected Vto constant wear removably mounted so that they can be easily and quickly replaced; and in order to provide a device having such characteristics, I have mounted a friction wheel and thumb wheel unit on a removable trunnion, the unit being supported by means of a `separate Washer encircling the trunnion and permitting the unit to be removed by `removing the trunnion and Washer and ,dropping .the unit from beneath the' protecting guardor band encircling the friction element, whereby the same may be easily replaced or interchanged at will;l and the following is a detailed description of the present embodiment of this invention and showing one means by which these advantageous results may be accomplished:

/Vith reference to the drawings, 10 designates the fuel reservoir or casing. which has a top wall 11 and a bottom wall 12 through which latter Wall the reservoir may be filled by removal of the cap 13 which has threaded engagement with the bottom 75 wall, as clearly illustrated in Figure 3. An

absorbent material 14, such as cotton or the like, is placed inthe fuel reservoir when dcsired'for taking up the volatile fuel.

A short tube 15 extends from the fuel reservoir 1() in which a wick 16 fits snugly which tube may be closed by a cap' 17 hinge'dly supportedon a pin 18 in the standard 19, as desired. A plunger 2O is pressed into v contact with one of the flat sides 21, 22 or 85` 23 of the end of the arm 24 by means of a spring 25 and serves tov hold the cover for the wick in the desired open or closed position.

In order to ignite this Wick, I have provided a standard 26 whichjsupports the tube l27 in which pyrophoric material 28 is slidable and pressed by means of a spring 29 and thumb screw 30 against the friction wheell mounted on the trunnion 32 as will be clearly apparent in the sectional showing of Figure 3. The friction wheel 31 is integral witha sleeve unit which also has integrally formed thereon a., thumb wheel 40 of a size considerably larger than that of the friction 100 wheel but which is not formed with a cutting edge to injure the thumb.

A guard 33 formed integral with the pyrophoric tube 29 is in-band shape and extends about or encircles the friction wheel 31 to 105 guard the same against accidental contact with the thumb. The opening lthrough band -33 is of a size to leave clearance between it and the friction wheel and also is of such a size as not to Contact wlth the slotted head 1 10 34of the trunnion 32 but permit it to pass` freely through this .ban-d opening in removal of the trunnion from the reservoir. v

The trunnion 32 has a threaded portion 35 which engages a threaded recess 36 in the top wall 111 of the fuel casing. The stock 37 is thickened about this recess 36to give an increased depth or bearing and permit a greater or more extended threaded engagement of thestud with the top of the casing. It will be observed that the trunnion or stud 32 has a support only at one end.'

A washer 38 is positioned about the trunnion 32 and between the thumb wheel 40 and the top wall 11 of the casing to support the friction wheel in its desired positionopposite the end of the pyrophoric tube. In removing the friction wheel after the same has become worn, it is merely necessary to insert a screwdriver in the slotted head of the trunnion 32 and back the screw-threaded partv thereof out of its recess in the top 11l and lift the trunnion 32 outwardly through the band-shapedguard 33 and then remove the washer 38 from beneath the wheels to permit the abrasive part to drop from beneath the guard 33 and the unit to be re-y moved to be repaired or replaced by another wheel unit.

I-have provided a very simple and eco-v nomical construction of lighter and have so mounted the moving parte that they may be quickly and easil replaced when" desired and yet one in w ich the abrasive friction wheel is protected softhat it will not injure or soil the thumb of the user orpermit the users thumb to accidentally contact therewith if slipped from the thumb Wheel 40. l

The foregoing description is directed solely towards the construction illustrated, but I desire it to be understood that I reserve the privilege of resorting to all the mechanical changes to which the device is susceptible, the invention being defined and limited only by the terms of the appended claims.

1, In a pocket lighter,` a fuel reservoir, a wick extending therefrom, a pyrophoric tube sup orted on said reservoir, a friction wheel adJacent the end of said tube, a uard for said wheel supported by .said tu e, a trunnion on which said wheel is supported extending into said guard, and a separate washer'on said trunnion between said wheel and reservoir to space the same therefrom,

said trunnion having threaded engagement with said reservoir and removable therefrom to permit removal of said washer and removal-of said wheel from vbeneath said guard. l v 2. In a pocket lighter, a fuel reservoir, a wick extending therefrom, a pyi'ophoric tube sup orted on said reservoir, a friction wheel ad3acent the end -of said tube, a thumb wheel Aof a larger size than `said friction band-shaped guard carried by said tube about saidfriction wheel, a trunnion having` threaded engagement with said reservoir and of a size smaller than the opening through said band guard on which said wheels are mounted, a separate washer .on said trumnion4 between said thumb Wheel and reservoii` whereby when said trunnion is removed, saidwasher is free to be removed from beneath said wheels and whereby the wheels may be droppedv from said band. guard and removed fi'om said lighter.

3; In lirhter construction, in combination, a fuel casing, a tube for holding pyrophoric material mounted in a horizontal posftion on the top wall of said casing, a friction wheel adjacent the end of said tube for engaging said pyrophoric material, a guard extending from said tube about said friction wheel, a thumb wheel between said guard and the casing adapted to be turned manually to rotate said friction wheel, said guard having an opening, and a removable'member adapted to be positioned through said opening and passing downwardly through said friction wheel and thumbwheel land into said casing to rotatablysupport said thumb wheel and said friction wheel.

4. In lighter construction, in combination, i

a fuel casing, a tube for holding pyrophoric -material mounted in a horizontal position on the top wall of said casing, a friction downwardlythrough said friction wheel and through said thumb wheel and into said casing to rotatably support said thumb wheel and said friction whee 5. In lighter construction,in combination,

a fuel casing, a tube for holding pyrophoric material mounted upon the top wall of said casing in spaced relation thereto and with its axis substantiall horizontal, one end of said tube being positioned adjacent one end of said top wall of the casing, a friction wheel vadjacent said end of the tube with its axis vertical and forengagiugthe pyrophoric material, av spring in said tube forA urging the pyrophoric `material against said-fricl tion wheel, a screw in the other .end of the tube for adjusting the compression ofisgaid spring, a thumb wheel beneath said friction tate said iction wheel against said pyrophoric material, 'a wick communicating with 'wheel adaprted to be turned manually to rothe interior of said casing and proJecting adjacent to said lfriction wheel in the path of sparks thrown 'by said ifriction wheel from said pyrophoric material, a cover for said wick mounted on the top of the casing for movement. into and out of positionjover said wick,' a guard projecting from said tube sub.

stantialiy covering the periphery of said friction wheel on the sidev thereof opposite ysaid wick and on the side thereof opposite the tube end and broken away adjacent said 4wick to permit passage of the sparks, said thumb Wheel being positioned beneath said guardv and said guard having an opening at the top above said friction Wheel, and a .removable threaded member having ahead positioned in said opening and passing down- Wardly through said friction Wheel, through a fuel casing, a tube for holding pyrophoric material mounted in a substantially horizontal position on thetop wall of said casing` a friction wheel adjacent the end of said tube for engaging said pyrophoric material, a rigid part 'projecting outwardly from the end of said tube adjacent said friction wheel, a thumb Wheel beneath said friction wheel, said projecting part of said tube having an 'opening therein above said friction Wheel, and a trunnion in said opening and extending through said friction Wheel, through said thumb Wheel and into said casing, said friction Wheel and said thumb wheel being rotatable upon said trunnion` and said trunnion being held against rotation.

ture.

In testimony whereof I ax my signai 

